Systèmes de culture agroécologiques légumiers incluant la carotte, économiquement viables et économes en produits phytosanitaires

The AlterCarot project aimed to design, test, and evaluate economically viable vegetable cropping systems—including carrot cultivation—with the use of plant protection products only as a last resort. The objectives were: (1) to reduce the Treatment Frequency Index (TFI) by at least 60 % across all tested cropping systems, particularly for carrot and green bean; and (2) to anticipate the short- and medium-term withdrawal of active substances. From 2019 to 2024, five innovative cropping systems were tested in the two main carrot-producing regions in France, applying 88 decision rules combining various agronomic levers. Two systems achieved or even exceeded the TFI reduction targets (up to 71 %). However, the lack of sufficiently effective alternatives for certain pests led to increased risk-taking, significantly impacting agronomic and economic outcomes. The project highlights the progress still needed— especially in research and experimentation—and emphasizes the importance of building on achievements and facilitating the transfer of decision rules.